Authors: Julie Moffett
To me?
Could this night get any stranger?
I glanced at the clock and saw it was twenty minutes after twelve in the morning. My life was a mess and I desperately needed someone to talk to.
I picked up the phone and speed-dialed Basia’s number. After two rings I heard the phone being picked up.
“Hello?” a sleepy voice said.
I frowned, confused. “Xavier? Oh, I’m sorry. I must have dialed your number instead of Basia’s…” I stopped talking, a feeling of dread creeping over me.
“Lexi?” I heard him say, sounding more awake. “You want to talk to Basia? She’s right here.”
I thought I might just drop dead of a heart attack. Basia was sleeping with Xavier? Was the Earth still round? Did a donut still have a million carbohydrates? Did I just throw up in a limo? What the hell was going on in my life?
“No, no. Don’t wake her. Jeez, never mind. I’ll talk to her in the morning.”
Before he could say another word, I hung up. Holy cow, I couldn’t take any more unexpected excitement tonight. I lay completely still on top of the covers, staring at the digital clock and watching the time slip past. Eventually I closed my eyes and fell asleep with the lights on. It wasn’t an elegant ending to the evening, but at least it put me out of my misery for the night.
I had a throbbing headache when the alarm went off at six o’clock, so I pushed the snooze button four times before dragging myself out of bed. Stumbling into the bathroom, I gulped down two aspirin with tap water before getting dressed. I brushed out my hair, securing it in a long ponytail at the nape of my neck with a hair clip. Makeup consisted of lip gloss.
Running late, I had to forgo my regular stop at Dunkin’ Donuts and instead, grabbed a banana and a Diet Coke on the way out of my apartment.
Somehow I made it to work on time and was shocked to see a single red rose lying across my keyboard. A small white card lay to the side. I picked it up and read “Thanks for an unforgettable evening. Finn.”
I was torn between being happy with the gesture and insecure about the message. No doubt last night had been unforgettable, but that wasn’t necessarily a plus. On the other hand, I got the feeling that Finn was trying to make light of the whole debacle. In any event, giving me a rose had been very thoughtful of him and I appreciated it more than he would probably ever know.
I filled a paper cup with water from the fountain and put the rose in it, propping it up against my window. I’d just sat down in my chair and turned on my computer when Basia bounced into my office, all sunshine and smiles.
“So, how was it last night? Give me all the nitty gritty.”
I leaned back in my chair. “You first. I call you at nearly one in the morning and Xavier answers the phone?”
Basia ran her fingers through her short bob and sat down. “Well, yes. Wow. How shall I put it—who knew that a geek could be so astounding in bed?”
I winced. “Jeez, Basia. Way too much information for me.”
“See, I told you Xavier is like a brother to you.”
“Okay, I’ll admit that. But did you have to sleep with him?”
“What are you—my mother? It was sweet, spontaneous and damn good sex. What’s wrong with that? We’re both consenting adults.”
I sighed. “I know. It’s just I think Xavier has fallen hard for you and I don’t want to see him hurt. Are you going out with him again tonight?”
“No, I happen to have plans with Lars.”
“How are you going to keep that from Xavier?”
“I’m not keeping anything from him. He knows.”
“And?”
“And he’s taking it better than you.”
“You’re like…double-dipping. Isn’t that illegal?”
Basia laughed. “Not in my book. Don’t worry, I can handle it. Now speaking of sex…please tell me you finally slept with Finn last night because I seriously think it’s you who needs a big-time roll in the hay.”
“For God’s sake, Basia, it was our first real date.”
“And your point would be?”
I sighed. “Okay, if you really must know, there was no sex. As of this morning, the notch on my bedpost remains at exactly one entirely forgettable encounter.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, the college geek. From your description, I would barely classify that as a sexual encounter.”
“Hey, I lost my virginity, didn’t I?”
“You don’t even remember his name.”
“Neither one of us should have had the mystery punch at the post-lecture computer party.”
She exhaled a breath. “You’re utterly hopeless, Lexi. Sometimes I really do worry about you. I seriously hope there is a good reason why you didn’t sleep with Finn last night.”
“Maybe he didn’t ask.”
“Maybe he did and you turned him down.”
“Maybe I asked and
he
turned
me
down.”
“Maybe you should know that in the history of mankind, there hasn’t been a guy on a date who has ever turned down free sex with a half-naked woman in his limo.”
“Maybe he didn’t like the way I hurled all over it.”
Basia stopped. “You did
what?
”
I gave her the brief version of the night’s events and when I finished, her face had paled considerably. “Oh, Lexi, that’s the most horrible, heart-breaking date story I’ve ever heard.”
Whatever improvement there had been in my mood since I saw the rose from Finn vanished in a puff. There was a long painful pause and then Basia broke out laughing. “God, I’d have paid good money to see Finn administer the Heimlich maneuver on you in that gown,” she choked out between laughs.
“Basia! You’re not helping.”
“Sorry,” she said, trying to swallow her laughter. “But it looks like the night wasn’t a complete loss.” She glanced pointedly at the rose. “From Finn?”
“He said the night was, um, unforgettable.”
Her laughter bubbled up again. I narrowed my eyes.
“What?” She wiped away tears. “Don’t give me that look. You
do
know how to make an evening unforgettable. Don’t get so worked up about it. I think Finn is crazy about you. A little mix-up with the gown and some projectile vomit isn’t going to change that.”
“Stop. I beg you. This
really
isn’t making me feel any better. What I need is some help with sex. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.”
“Okay, let’s get serious then. There is clearly more work to be done.”
“What kind of work?”
“Work on your sexual confidence.”
“How do we do that?”
Basia stood. “Come on, let’s go get some coffee and I’ll explain it to you on the way.”
The thought of coffee appealed to me even if learning about my sexual confidence didn’t. My headache had subsided, but I still felt some niggling pain behind my eyes. Caffeine might provide a bit of the perk I so desperately needed this morning.
“All right.” I stood and picked up my mug.
“Overall, I think you took an important step last night,” Basia said as we walked down the corridor. “You showed Finn a feminine side of you he hadn’t seen before. Try to focus on the good parts of the evening. He did say you looked hot.”
“How helpful is looking hot if I don’t know how to follow up? I think guys can tell when a woman is inexperienced.”
“For some guys, sexual inexperience is a real a turn-on. They like to be in charge.”
“What if Finn isn’t one of those kind of guys?”
“Every guy is like that to some extent. Either way, I’m betting you’re a fast learner. With an IQ like yours, good sex should be a walk in the park. Xavier is my case in point.”
I couldn’t help it, I winced. “I sincerely hope you’re right.”
“Have I ever steered you wrong?”
“How about last night?”
“A technical miscalculation. You learned an important lesson. Get more information ahead of time.”
“Yeah, thanks, Einstein.”
She smiled at a young guy who passed us in the hall and looked at her with open appreciation. “Now, an important question, although I think I already know the answer. During that pathetic sexual encounter of yours, did you ever experience the Big O?”
“Big O?”
“Orgasm.”
I looked at her in horror. “Jeez, Basia, keep your voice down. Do we have to talk about orgasms in the middle of the hall?”
“No one will hear us.”
“Right,” I muttered as we walked into the office kitchen. To my relief it was empty. “Well, if you must know, I’ve never had the Big O, but I think I was close when Slash kissed me last night.”
“Slash?” She stared at me. I remembered I hadn’t given her the details about his late-night visit, so I quickly filled her in.
She arched her eyebrow. “And you accuse me of double dipping?”
“I’m not double dipping. I’m not getting
any
sex.”
“Then don’t even think about Slash. He’s got
bad news w
ritten in big neon letters across his forehead. An enormous no-no.”
“Oh, I see,” I said, picking up the coffee carafe and pouring some in my mug. “It’s okay for you to date two guys at the same time, but not me?”
“We are
not
talking about dating just any two guys. One of those two guys is Slash. In dating terms, Slash is like a wolf and you’re the paralyzed rabbit in his thrall. He should be considered forbidden—off limits. You’ve got to trust me on this, Lexi. He is the kind of man trouble you
really
don’t want. On the other hand, you’ve got a lot in common with Finn. You both are turned on by technology, are highly intelligent and have the same sense of dry humor.”
“I have dry humor? As opposed to a wet humor?”
Basia rolled her eyes at me before picking up a Styrofoam cup. I poured some coffee into it for her. We both tipped a ton of creamer in our coffees and stirred them with a swizzle stick. I sipped mine as we headed for one of the small round tables in the kitchen corner.
“Okay, look, I think I have a good idea.” Basia sat down.
“I don’t think so,” I said, joining her. “No offense, but look where your help got me last night.”
“My
help
gave you the one highlight of the evening. Finn loved the gown.”
“Before I threw up on it.”
“You know what I mean.”
Before I could reply, Finn’s secretary, Glinda McBain, strolled into the kitchen. She wore a tight ivory blouse that strained across her generous bosom and a fitted dark green skirt with matching green pumps. Long red hair fell artfully around her back and shoulders, and her makeup looked professionally applied. She caught me staring and shot me the finger.
My lips curled into a snarl. We had despised each other since the first time we had met a couple of months ago, mostly because we both had the hots for Finn. Usually we made a point to avoid any possible chance encounters. But this morning I was cranky and her gesture had me spoiling for a fight.
“Isn’t Glinda the name of a witch in
The Wizard of Oz?
” I said.
Basia followed my gaze. “Yes, but the good witch.”
“In my opinion, a witch is a witch. If the shoe fits, wear it.”
Basia snickered and Glinda strode over to our table. “What are you looking at, Carmichael?” she said in a low throaty voice, a trace of Irish lilt evident. “Trying to get some tips on how a real woman dresses?”
“Too bad I don’t need to dress like you to get Finn’s attention.”
It was a direct hit because Glinda flushed red to her roots. She leaned down, tapping a blood-red fingernail on the tabletop. “Do you honestly think I worry about you being any kind of competition? Let me make something clear. You don’t have a prayer with Finn. You’re not the kind of woman he needs.”
“And I suppose you know the kind of woman he does need?”
Glinda laughed contemptuously. “Of course, I do. I really don’t like you, but I am generous enough to share a little advice—woman to woman. Give up on Finn. You’ll only get hurt and badly.”
“You wish.”
“In fact, I do. So, if you want to ignore my advice, then go ahead and keep on believing you have a chance with him. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“You know, you’re a real piece of work,” I said with a disgusted shake of my head.
“And you have absolutely no idea who Finn is, because you don’t know him like I do. Our families have been friends since we were both in nappies. I grew up with Finn in Cork and we share the same culture, history and background. How do you think I got this job here at X-Corp? Finn’s mother. Even she knows we’re meant to be together. So, here’s the stone-cold truth, sweetheart. You’re nothing more than a distraction, an oddity to Finn for the time being. I respect the fact that a man like him needs to sow his oats and experience different kinds of women. Even women like you. But in the end, when he comes home—it will be to me.”
“Ha! Maybe you don’t know Finn as well as you think,” I bluffed. “Maybe I find it amusing that you’re so jealous.”
Glinda tossed her head and a sea of perfect curls rained around her shoulders. “Me? Jealous of
you?
That’s nothing short of absurd. I’d never be jealous of someone so…how do you Americans say it, geeky.”
With a choking noise, I leaped from my chair and hurled myself at her. Basia seized my arm and pulled me back just as I grabbed a fistful of Glinda’s blouse at the collar. Glinda shrieked and tried to rake her nails down my cheek.
“Have you both gone certifiable?” Basia hissed, pulling us apart and stepping in the middle. “As much as the men in the office might enjoy seeing the two of you trying to pull each other’s hair out while rolling around on the floor, we do have a modicum of decorum to maintain here.”
Glinda glared at me and I’m pretty sure I was about to throw myself at her again when Finn unexpectedly walked through the door. All of us froze in place.
“Well, here you all are.” A frown crossed his face, as if he realized he’d just interrupted something. “I wondered where everyone in the office had disappeared to.”
To her credit, Glinda recovered first. “I was just fixing your coffee, Finn
gra,
” she said, hurrying over to the coffee pot. I hadn’t missed the familiarity with which she said his name and the little Irish endearment. I gritted my teeth and tried to smile as Finn addressed me.
“Are you ready to head out to Flow Technologies?”
“Ready when you are.”
Glinda brought Finn his coffee. “It’s just how you like it, Finn,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.
I wanted to throw up.
“Thanks, Glinda,” he said, smiling. She tossed a smirk of victory over her shoulder at me as she sashayed out of the kitchen.
Even though I tried to squelch it, I still felt cranky and jealous. I was definitely having a PMS morning and I needed to cool it. At work, Finn was my boss, not an object of heated desire. I tried to remember that as we headed for the garage and climbed into his Jag.
“I saw Ben this morning,” Finn said, putting the Jag into gear. “He said to ask Niles about their new partnership with NanoLab Industries.”
“NanoLab Industries? Who are they?”
“Flow’s manufacturing partner. Flow develops the technology and NanoLab will work on mass producing and distributing the final product.”
“Meaning the energy replacement.”
“Yes.”
“Do we know anything else about them?”
“Not much,” Finn said. “Ben is still working on it.”
“Good,” I said and we lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I figured I should thank him for the rose, but I wasn’t sure how to do it.
“Um…I found the rose this morning,” I finally said. “It was really nice of you. Especially after…well, what happened.”